Jamie O’Hara was left baffled after Micky van de Ven was booked during Tottenham’s 4-1 win over West Ham United on Saturday (19 October), despite being kicked and struck in the face by Mohammed Kudus.
Tensions boiled over in the closing stages of the Premier League clash, as the Hammers grew frustrated following a second-half collapse.
Having taken an early lead through Kudus, West Ham found themselves trailing 4-1, and the Ghanaian’s red card compounded their misery.
The incident unfolded when Kudus, in an outburst of frustration, kicked Van de Ven before striking him in the face. Referee Andrew Madley initially showed both players a yellow card, but a VAR review upgraded Kudus’ card to red.
O’Hara, reacting to the decision on X (formerly Twitter), expressed his disbelief: “How is the ref booking Van de Ven? It’s a disgrace. Kudus kicks him twice and then pushes him in the face. Disgrace of a decision – VAR a joke too.”
Kudus Sent Off as West Ham Crumble:
While Kudus had little room to argue against his dismissal, Tottenham may feel aggrieved by Van de Ven’s booking, as the Dutch defender appeared to be an innocent victim in the altercation. The frustration within the West Ham camp was clear, with Tomas Soucek also receiving a yellow card for dissent.
With Kudus now facing a three-match ban, Julen Lopetegui will need his other attacking options, including Jarrod Bowen, Lucas Paqueta, and Michail Antonio, to step up in the Ghanaian’s absence.
West Ham’s capitulation will be a major concern for Lopetegui. Kudus opened the scoring after just 18 minutes, but Spurs found their way back far too easily, scoring four unanswered goals.
The Hammers had hoped to build momentum after their recent 4-1 victory over Ipswich Town, but their defeat to Tottenham leaves them back at square one. Lopetegui now faces the challenge of steadying the ship ahead of a crucial run of fixtures.